Safety Tips for Trail Users
Given that the Greenway sees thousands of users per day in the summer (up to 5,000 cyclists passing just one location, not counting pedestrians), and given that the Coalition learns of only about one assault per year on average, the Greenway is pretty safe on a per-use basis. That said it is definitely true that one should be aware of one's surroundings and take precautions after dark.
As a general rule, it's always better to ride with a buddy or in a group. But if that's just not feasible, here are some things you can do to increase your safety:
- Look ahead on the trail, and if you see something that makes you uncomfortable (a group of people, a few loitering individuals, etc), turn around. Going a little out of your way is better than getting into an unsafe situation. And trust your instincts--if your gut is telling you a situation should be avoided, listen to it!
- Similarly, if you safely ride past a loitering group but are concerned about the group, do the cyclists behind you a favor by pulling up at a safe distance and calling 911.
- It's always a good idea to carry a cell phone to know where you are on the trail, should you need to report an incident.
- If something looks suspicious, call 911. Better safe than sorry.
- Make sure you have proper lights on your bike! You need a white light in the front and a red light or reflector in the back (it's actually illegal to not have lights on your bike!) This significantly increases your safety as well as the safety of other trail users, who might not otherwise see you in some of the darker sections of the Greenway.
Remember that the more people who use the Greenway at night, the safer it becomes!
Click here if you're interested in learning more about our Trail Watch program, and email trailwatch@midtowngreenway.org if you'd like to start volunteering.
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